Wrangell Borough, Southeast Alaska Power Agency and Thomas Bay Power Authority officials will meet Nov. 5 at city hall. They will discuss possible ways to streamline operations and administration at two publicly-owned hydro-electric power plants in this part of the state.
The workshop will focus on a recent report by D Hittle and Associates, which was commissioned by SEAPA, to investigate the organization’s structure. According to an agreement with SEAPA, Ketchikan Public Utilities operates the Swan Lake power plant and Thomas Bay Power Authority operates the Tyee Lake facility. The report calls for a single operations and maintenance contractor for both facilities.
The study estimates there would be an estimated half-million dollars in savings annually if the changes are implemented. In recent years, the combined cost of operating the two plants has been around $1.5 million.
SEAPA board members had an initial discussion about the report during a conference in Petersburg in September. Members decided to hold off on making any decisions until city officials in the Wrangell, Petersburg and Ketchikan had a chance to look over the report and talk about some options. Oversight of the electricity involves elected and appointed bodies in the three Southeast communities. Some of the same people serve on more than one of the groups.
Officials will meet at 5:30 Nov. 5 in Borough Assembly Chambers.
